When we catch up with lead singer and guitarist of The Demon Parade, Michael Badger, he’s enjoying a few well-earned days off in the harbour city. “I’m so pumped! We finished mastering Stone Circles, our new EP, last night – I always leave things to the last minute,” he laughs. “It was a mad rush and we’ve had no sleep for days, but as soon as we were done I jumped on a plane to come up to Sydney – I had to get out of Melbourne for a few days.”
As euphoric as he feels now, Badger admits that for a time last year, he wasn’t sure he’d ever make a record again or even play another gig. “I went through a lot of stuff with my family and I questioned whether The Demon Parade would make another album or tour again,” he says. “There was definitely a time when I thought I couldn’t put myself through that process again, but then all of a sudden I felt compelled to write music and all these songs just poured out of me.”
According to Badger, the catalyst for the Stone Circles EP can be heard in the lyrics on track three. “‘Utopia’ is the song that kick-started the whole thing,” he says. “But for the first time, we’re putting out a full release and not worrying about choosing a single or worrying about which track might work well on radio. In a way, I feel like I’ve documented four or five months of my life and put it onto a record.”
The making of Stone Circles brought about another fresh approach to the way The Demon Parade work together in the recording studio. “‘My Life In Pieces’ was recorded in one take during a rehearsal – I didn’t mix the song, I just put vocals over the top,” Badger explains. “I’d never done that before – I just left the recordings alone and didn’t feel the urge to overproduce things, and I’m so glad I did.”
Not taking on so much responsibility this time around freed up more time for Badger and his bandmates to remember why they started The Demon Parade in the first place. “It’s been really good making music with these guys again. We drank a lot of beers and went out partying after recording sessions. They’re incredible musicians, but they’re in the band because they’re good guys as well. It’s been a really enjoyable time and I think we’ve all rediscovered the best parts about being in a band.”
The practice of catharsis through creativity is by no means a new idea, but for The Demon Parade, it may well be the key to their survival. “I’ve been listening to Stone Circles all day and I’m feeling really happy – I’m excited and energised again,” says Badger. “Now I want to keep the momentum going until we get sick of it or get burnt out. Our next release will hopefully be straight after this, and at this stage it’s going to be called Stone Circles Two.”
The EP tour kicks off next week in Lismore, but for now Badger is enjoying his downtime. “I’m really loving the vibe up in the Sydney music scene, to be honest. There’s a real community feeling with bands helping other bands, which is lacking in Melbourne at the moment. The Cherry Dolls are doing really well lately, but I think it’s because they’ve been playing their part in the Melbourne scene. Rather than getting people to pay their ten dollars to see them play and then sending them home, they always go out of their way to create a great vibe on a night out, and I’d love to do that.”
The Demon Parade’s Stone Circles is out Friday August 7 through Rish/MGM, and you can catch them on Friday August 21 at Old Manly Boatshed; Saturday August 22 at The Standard Bowl; and Sunday August 23 at Frankie’s Pizza.
